The India AI Impact Summit 2026 marks an inflection point in the global AI discourse, moving AI conversations from ideas to real-world impact. Guided by the central mantra of Impact, and the principles of People, Planet, and Progress, the Summit envisions a future where AI advances human well-being, drives inclusive economic growth, and protects our shared planet. To turn this vision into action, the Summit’s work is organised through seven thematic Working Groups (Chakras), each focused on a priority domain.
The AI for Economic Growth & Social Good Working Group is one of the Summit’s core tracks focused on advancing the agenda of Impact. Led by India, the Netherlands, and Indonesia as co-chairs, the Working Group brought together 40+ countries and international organisations through four convenings. The Working Group collectively identified three critical challenges: uneven access to AI resources, siloed knowledge and duplicative efforts, and limited incentive structures for impact-driven innovation.
To address these challenges, the Global AI Impact Commons emerged as an official deliverable of the AI for Economic Growth & Social Good Working Group.
The Global AI Impact Commons is an official deliverable of the Working Group on AI for Economic Growth & Social Good, convened at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. It functions as a global commons, enabling access to high quality AI resources and artefacts, documenting proven AI deployments and their real-world impact, enabling cross-border learning, and accelerating the transition from isolated pilots to population-scale impact.
Vision
To deliver real, measurable impact of AI for people, planet, and progress.
Mission
Creating measurable economic and societal impact by scaling AI from isolated pilots to population scale systems through global collaboration.
- Build Common Understanding: Develop shared, evidence-based understanding of AI’s economic and societal impact through a collection of diverse Impact Stories
- Enable Discoverability: Provide visibility and alignment of global efforts to reduce fragmentation and enable meaningful reuse of AI resources
- Ensure Accessibility: Enable equitable access to AI artefacts to promote reproducibility and inclusive global participation
- Support Replicability: Enable reuse, adaptation, and scaling of AI solutions across diverse geographies to address common challenges across different contexts
What qualifies as an impact story?
An impact story documents the real-world deployment of an AI system aimed at addressing a clearly defined challenge, and which demonstrates social or economic impact.
What is the envisaged scope of the Global AI Impact Commons?
The scope of the Global AI Impact Commons is envisioned to evolve to encompass:
AI Artefacts Repository
- AI use cases documenting real-world deployments
- Models, datasets, code, and benchmark resources (where shareable)
- Replication toolkits, frameworks, and implementation guides
Problem Statement Platform
- Real-world challenges requiring AI solutions
Collaboration Opportunities
- Matchmaking between governments, innovators, and proven use cases
AI for Impact Community
- Contributors from governments, international organizations, industry, academia and civil societies
- Technical and domain experts providing advisory support
What is the Global AI Impact Commons designed as?
The Global AI Impact Commons is designed as a documentation, learning and collaboration resource. As such:
- It does not rank, score, or evaluate AI systems
- It does not claim causal attribution of outcomes
- It does not act as a marketplace for AI solutions
- It does not independently validate the metrics provided by use case contributors
- It will not host sensitive or security-critical impact stories, datasets, or models
- It seeks to provide diverse geographic and sectoral coverage based on the availability of credible information and such representation may evolve over time.
Who can submit Impact Stories?
Currently submissions are being sourced through all member countries and international organisations that are part of the AI for Economic Growth and Social Good Working Group along with selected trusted partners. Organisations interested to contribute may contact us at impactsummit.wg@indiaai.gov.in.
How often is the repository updated?
The Commons is designed to be dynamic, with Impact Stories added and updated on a rolling basis.
Who is the Implementing Organisation?
This Implementation Organisation typically owns or operates the product, service, or system and is accountable for its outcomes, performance, and real-world deployment.
Implementing organisations may include:
- Startups or technology companies
- Non-profit organisations or NGOs
- Government agencies or departments
- Research institutions deploying operational systems
- Private sector or public-private partnership entities
Who is the Contributor?
The Contributor is the organisation that submitted the impact story, data, or documentation to the Global AI Impact Commons. Contributors may act as intermediaries/aggregators compiling and sharing information.